Summer came to us very young with two other female lambs in 2007. They had
all been seized from a horrible neglect case in which many other lambs died
before their rescue. It was the middle of winter and we did not yet have our
Animal Rehabilitation Center built, and so they lived in Jenny and Doug’s house!
They slept in a pen set up in the kitchen but were allowed to frolic from room
to room. As charming as that sounds, very few cleaning products are capable of
cleaning lamb urine out of living room rugs! The trio thrived and quickly became
well-known as absurdly friendly to visitors and staff alike, helping to dispel
the myth that sheep are dumb or overly timid.

In April 2011 Summer’s back legs became wobbly and the problem progressed
over the next few days. Blood tests were inconclusive but indicated that
something was wrong, so we took her to the experts at Cornell Veterinary
Hospital. They determined that she had acquired a parasite known as Meningeal
worm. Carried by wild deer, when a sheep becomes infested with Meningeal worm
the parasite moves into the brain and/or spinal cord and causes neurological
problems that can be fatal.

She was given treatment but the damage to the nerves in her spinal cord could
potentially be permanent. Summer, unable to frolic with the rest of her flock,
seemed to be depressed and her condition worsened to where she wasn’t able to
stand or walk around on her own. That’s when we contacted Eddie’s Wheels in
Massachusetts. Well-known for their work helping dogs and cats with mobility
issues, the mechanical genius Eddie Grinnell has also helped farm animals.

Summer is now able to walk with assistance from her special wheelchair
fitted perfectly to her needs. After almost a month of immobility, Summer is
now walking on all fours and that sparkle has returned to her eyes! We hope
that with this physical therapy she shall someday cast her chair aside, but
for now it’s a huge help. It’s your support that allows us to do such things
for rescued farm animals, and so we and the critters thank you! And now is a
great time to give with our current Matching Fund Drive. Please help us
continue to help more animals like Summer.

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